Key case



May 3,1949. l CANNON 2,468,959

KEYA oAs-E Filed April 19, 1947 Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES @ATNT 46ans OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to key cases, and has particular reference to a novel construction therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to form a key case out of stamped resilient sheet metal, the case parts being shaped to releasably grip the keys when within the case and when extended for use.

Another object of the invention is to form a key case with a belt or pocket clip which serves as an attaching or securing means, and also functions as a means for distinguishing between the ends of the key case, whereby the keys at each end of the case are identified.

An additional object of the invention is to construct a key case of resilient material, so shaped that it operates when pressed to release the keys from the key case into extended position and to freely receive the keys into the key case after use, to be spring held therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple key case construction which has no separate spring elements or other key holding parts, whereby the cost of manufacture is greatly reduced.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of the novel key case, one key being shown in extended position ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing one key held within. the case and the extended key held in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, both keys being shown housed in the case;

Fig. i is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the release of a key at one end when the other end of the case is manually gripped; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective detail of one end of the case, disclosing the key gripping area at the end.

It has been found desirable to provide a key case in which two keys are housed, the case being of resilient material shaped to releasably hold the keys in place, but adaptedwhen pressed to release either key for swinging to extended position and use, the key being releasably held in extended position until the case is again pressed, whereupon the extended key is released to swing 2 back into the case. To this end, I provide a key case preferably stamped out of resilient sheet metal stock in which two keys are pivotally secured, and which has one side shaped to function as a spring element for gripping the key ends between it and the other side, the end sections of the sides being movable towards each other when manually pressed to release the spring element pressure, whereby the key at the end which is not gripped may swing to extended position. The end sections of the sides are preferably shaped to grip the key which is extended, thus facilitating insertion of the key into a lock, the grip being released when the side sections at the opposite end are manually pressed together, whereupon the extended key may freely swing to be housed in the case.

Referring to the drawings, the novel key case It includes a housingII made of stamped resilient sheet metal, folded to provide two generally parallel sides I2, I3 which have their respective end sections I4, I 5 and i6, Il provided with inwardly extending circular bosses I8, I9, 20 and 2l, the bosses I8 and 20 and I9 and 2l being aligned in slightly spaced relation to form split pivot posts 22, 23 for keys 24, 25. The keys are readily mounted on the pivot posts by `slightly spreading the end sections, which resiliently close towards each other after the key opening is aligned with the circular bosses until the ends of the bosses are slightly spaced from each other.

'Ihe side i3 is dished at its central area, as indicated by the reference numeral 25, to provide a restricted space between it and the other side I 2, whereby the key ends are gripped between the sides when the keys are housed in the case. The dishing operation preferably includes shearing a generally triangular clip 21 from the material of the. side I3, thus increasing the resilience of the side I3 and providing a spring clip for releasably attaching the key case to a belt or garment part. .The end 28 ofthe clip 2l is preferably curled, whereby the clip also functions as to tell-tale in darkness or dim light, to distinguish between the two ends and aid in selecting the desired key.

The end sections are shaped to releasably grip the shank of an extended key therebetween. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the end sections it, I6 have their outer rounded portions partially indented or bent down as indicated by the reference numerals 29, Sil, whereby the extended key, see Fig. 2, is resiliently clamped between the indented portions and is also slightly tilted and engages the side I2. Similarly, the housed key is gripped between the two sides and is slightly tilted to engage its head with the end section of the side i3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the two keys are housed in the case, as shown in Fig. 3, their ends are thus spring held, and their heads also resiliently lengage the end sections of the side I3. When it is desired to release one key, the opposite end of the case is pressed, see Fig. 4; this causes the, split post parts to contact each other and serve as a fulcrum to open the center and the other end of the case, releasing the key grip, whereby the key at the.' free end of the case may be readily swung t'o extended position by a quick hand snap. At tliisf time, the hand pressure is released,.whereupon the extended key now becomes spring held byvv the end clamp in extended position; ready for use: After the key is used, the opposite end is again pressed, whereupon the end clamp is released, and* the key may swing back into the case, whereupon release of the pressingpressure: again.- looksA it in place in the case. The: key at the pressed end cannotswing out,. as the pressing; pressure holds it in the case, asshown'inliig; 4.

The improved key'case thus includesfaunitary housing of` stamped metalwhich is shapedv to provide springgripping, of' twokeys when housed and when extended, and has a beltor. garment clip, the clip serving as an indicator topdistinguishl between the two ends atnight'. The; resilient central cupped portion oi the,` side;A carrying the clipnot only releasably. ygrips the, outer ends ofthe twokeys, but also keepathe two: keys near the top of t the ca'sefor quick-release:

Further, the pivot supportsifor the keys.A are integral with. the sides,l actr as spacing members for the sides, and also function; as, ulcrums-when either end of; the casev is*pressed, tozspread` the center area andthe other end of thefcase. for

releasingthekey atthe'othenend; Thefendxsec- .1'.

tions of thev sides extend-over thekey endswhen the keys are` housed, and formprcssureareasfor obtaining the desiredkeylreleasingi action; and also serve as gripping parts to holdan` extended key in place, thus facilitating-j insertion of the key in the lock.

While have descn'bedia specific-g embodiment of the invention; it Yis. obvious; that changes 1 in :the size, shape andimaterial orthepartsLmay be made to suit the requirements for. different key cases, without departing from thespirit andzthescope of the invention: as deiined-V in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a key case,V ahousinghavingtwo generally parallel sides, pivot means respectively inter'- mediate each end and the center of the; housing, each adapted to swingingly receivethe-head. of a. key thereon, means normally. grip-ping the end ofy a keys-between said: sides, andmeans whereby pressingr'either'end' of the; housing beyond the pivot means releases the keyfendgrippingmeans.

2. In a key case; ahousing;havingztwofgenerally parallel sides, pivot means` respectively inter:- mediateeach end andithe center: of: the housing, each adapted to swingingly receive the;v head. of a key thereon, IneanslI normallyV grippingy the; end of a key between said sides-,means at each end of the housing normally-gripping thershankgof In un a key when it is swung to extended position beyond the housing end, and means whereby pressing either end of the housing beyond the pivot means releases the key end gripping means and the key shank gripping means at the other end of the housing.

3. In a key case, a housing having two generally parallel sides, pivot means respectively intermediate each end and the center of the housing, eachV adapted to, swingingly receive the head of a key thereon, means normally gripping the end of, a key between said sides, and means whereby pressing either end of the housing beyond the p iyot means releases the key end gripping means,

Y. said pivot means including spaced aligned pivot parts extending inwardly from each side.

4. Ina key case, a housing having two generally parallel sides, pivot means respectively intermediate each end and the center of the housing, each adapted to swingingly receive the head ofV a key thereon, meansnormallyl grippinggthe end:` of a key between said.` sides, means at each end of the housing normally gripping the shank oi a key when it isswung to extended position beyond. the housingend, andA means whereby pressing either endH of the-housing beyond the pivot means releases the key. end ,gripping means and the key shank gripping means at the other end oi the housing, said pivot means1 including spaced aligned pivot parts extending inwardly from each side.

5. In a key case, al housing havingtwogenerally parallel sides, pivotmeans respectively inter.- mediate each end andthefcentenof. the-housing,

, each adapted'to swingingly receiveftheY head of a ke-ythereon, means-normally gripping the end ofa, key between said sides,` and means whereby pressing either; end. of the; housing beyond the pivot means releases the key end `gripping means, said end gripping means.includingaresilient portionofone side extendingtowards the other side.

6; Ini a key case,y a. housing having two gen,- erally parallel sides, one or said sides being of resilient material, said sides each havinga pivot part adjacent each end, the pivotpartsadjacent each vend beingin spaced ,alignment andl forming ai split. pivot post for sw-ingingly receiving the head-of a key, said resilientsidehaving a centralportion extending towards the other side to grip the ends of keys mounted on the split pivot posts, the ends of thefsidesbeyond the split pivot posts being manually pressable towards each other, whereby pressure on,said side ends at either end oi the. housingl contacts the pivot post parts at that end to form a fulcrum for shift,- ing said central portion to key end releasing position.

FRANK` CANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of'record, in the le ofJ this patent:

UNITED S'lIZrTESy PATENTS Number` Name Date 1,425,089 Henry Aug, 83,1922 1,886,110 Lippstadt Nov. l, 1932 2,274,820- Bills Mar. 3, 1942 

